Tokyo Drift (and Damp Socks): A Botanist's Unexpected Adventure
okay, so. tokyo. i didn’t plan to be in tokyo. i was supposed to be tracking rare moss varieties in the highlands of scotland, but a series of unfortunate events involving a rogue sheep, a cancelled flight, and a surprisingly persuasive travel agent landed me here. and honestly? it’s… something.
I’m elara, by the way. Botanist. Usually happiest knee-deep in peat bogs, not dodging salarymen on the Shibuya crossing. But hey, new experiences, right? The air here smells like… exhaust and something vaguely floral, which is a weird combo. i just checked and it’s hovering around eleven point seven five degrees celsius, with a ‘feels like’ of ten point eight nine. the humidity is a solid seventy-three percent, so my socks are perpetually damp. delightful.
I’ve been mostly wandering, trying to find pockets of green. surprisingly, there are some. tiny, fiercely protected parks tucked between skyscrapers. i spent a good hour staring at a single bonsai tree in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden - it was older than my grandmother. seriously, the dedication it takes to maintain something like that… it’s humbling. You can check out their website here: https://www.shinjukugyoen.jp/.
Food-wise… wow. i’ve eaten things i can’t even begin to identify. I stumbled into this tiny ramen shop in a back alley - the kind with only six seats and a handwritten menu. someone told me that the chef there, mr. tanaka, only makes one bowl a day, and you have to queue up before dawn to get it. i didn’t queue, but i got a pretty decent bowl anyway. Yelp reviews are… mixed, apparently. Some people swear it’s life-changing, others say it’s just “noodles.” https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=ramen&find_loc=Tokyo
I’m staying in a capsule hotel in Akihabara. it’s… efficient. and surprisingly quiet. i’ve got my noise-cancelling headphones, a travel-sized humidifier (essential for the damp socks situation), and a book on Japanese wildflowers.
*pro-tip: learn a few basic phrases. “arigato” goes a long way. and don’t be afraid to get lost. that’s where the good stuff happens.
gear list (because i’m a botanist, it’s in my blood):
Waterproof notebook (for sketching plants, obviously)
Small magnifying glass (essential for moss identification)
Travel-sized humidifier (damp socks are a tragedy)
Noise-cancelling headphones (capsule hotels…)
Pocket translator (google translate is my best friend)
Reusable water bottle (stay hydrated, people!)
A really good umbrella (the rain is… persistent)
I overheard some tourists complaining about the crowds. they were heading towards Yokohama. i heard that it’s a bit quieter, and has some nice botanical gardens. if you get bored, Saitama and Chiba are just a short drive away.
Honestly, this trip has been a crash course in… adaptability. i miss my peat bogs, i miss the smell of rain on heather, but i’m also kind of enjoying the chaos. i’m going to try and find a local plant shop tomorrow. maybe i can pick up some seeds to take home. or at least a really cool succulent.
Anyone know where to find a decent coffee shop around here? i’m running on fumes. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298184-Tokyo-CoffeeShops.html
and one last thing: someone, a very drunk salaryman, warned me about the vending machines. apparently, they sell everything. even corn soup. i haven’t tested this theory yet, but i’m intrigued. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2171.html
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